I Think I "Bonked"

[KnottedYet]

Oh. My. Gawd.

throw that magazine out!

[Jolt]

Oh. My. Gawd.

throw that magazine out!

In fact, defenestrate it! (But then go out and pick it up and put it in the trash barrel, wouldn't want to litter)

[Veronica]

Nahh... I think she should eat the magazine.

V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another minor point- Emergen-C powder packets are not really electrolytes- they contain mostly vitamins. The same company however DOES make packets with specifically electrolytes content for replacing those lost during exercise.

I use both. The electrolyte powder directions say one packet per liter- so I mix up a liter of water with one packet and divide it into 3 water bottles and keep them in the fridge for my bike rides. I use about one per day. The Emergen-C packet (which says one packet per glass of water) I either throw into a water bottle just before I leave (vitamin C does not store/stand well), or I drink one in a glass of water later in the day.

Aside from the 1000mg of vitamin C in the packet of Emergen-C, the other vitamins in it are not very strong at all, and if as you say you are drinking "very diluted" Emergen-C water, that probably isn't doing much in terms of any nutrient replacement.
FWIW....here is the electrolyte powder packets I use that are made by the Emergen-C people:
http://www.allstarhealth.com/f/alacer-electro_mix.htm
You mix one packet to a liter of water (NOT one packet per water bottle!)

[michelem]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I read the mag at Borders (bookstore) and took notes, but did not buy it. Upon your advice, the notes are going in the trash! I'll look into the Alacer Electrolyte mix. Already, I rarely eat processed foods - the Organic Food Bar is about as processed as I get - I'll start playing around with different foods to see what works and fits in my jersey pockets! It's kinda tough 'cause I do have some food intolerances/allergies. This was my first morning ride, so that was different too. I'm going to have to get up very early to eat before the next ride (ugh - I'm not a morning person!.

[mimitabby]

one more thing.
I read in your posts that you are trying to do two things, increase your riding
and DECREASE your food intake. NOT a good combination. I guarantee if you increase your riding, you're 1/ going to have to eat more 2/ you're going to start changing your metabolism.
But you can't start by starving yourself or you won't be able to sustain the work.

One of the reasons my DH likes to ride IN EXCESS is so that he can continue to enjoy
the foods he loves without getting chubby.

[jobob]

I read the mag at Borders (bookstore) and took notes, but did not buy it.

Well, glad you didn't waste any money on it!

As with pretty much everything else having to do with biking you'll need to find out for yourself what works best for you in terms of what to eat before a ride, and how long before the ride to eat it. But it sounds like we're all in agreement that you gotta eat beforehand - to fuel the engine, as it were.

[michelem]

"I read in your posts that you are trying to do two things, increase your riding
and DECREASE your food intake."

Hi MimiTabby,

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my post. My goal is to increase my riding distances, but it is not to decrease my food intake. I do NOT need (or want) to lose weight. The magazine was addressing how to train the body to burn more fat vs. glycogen so that it will sustain longer rides more efficiently. It is not a weight loss tactic. Anyway, I learned right away that this is not the route for me to take. How can I increase my distances if my muscles give out 1/2-way through the ride? Perhaps this tactic does work for really fit guys or something. Who knows . . . I just know it sure didn't work for me this past weekend!

[jobob]

Well, personal experience is the best teacher. So long as you don't kill yourself in the process.

[maillotpois]

V's right, you probably would have riddenbetter if you had eaten the magazine. That's inSANE. Any ride longer than about 15 miles you gotta have breakfast!